Witches and wizards
In lime-green robes were walking up and down the rows, asking questions and making notes on clipboards like Umbridge’s. Harry200 noticed the emblem embroidered on their chests: a wand and bone, crossed.

Over here! called Mrs. Weasley, above the renewed clanging of the warlock in the corner, and they followed her to the queue in front of a plump blonde witch seated at a desk marked Enquiries.The wall behind her was covered in notices and posters saying things like: A CLEAN CAULDRON202 KEEPS POTIONS FROM BECOMING POISONS and ANTIDOTES ARE ANTI-DON’TS UNLESS APPROVED BY A QUALIFIED HEALER. There was also a large portrait of a witch with long silver ringlets which was labelled:Print Finishing

keeping a lookout for anybody
Approaching, said Dumbledore. But she may already know … that excellent clock of 300hers …

Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to the clock that told, not the time, but the whereabouts and conditions of the various Weasley family members, and with a pang he thought that Mr. Weasley’s hand must, even now, be pointing at mortal peril.But it was very late. Mrs. Weasley was probably asleep, not watching the clock. Harry felt cold as he remembered Mrs. Weasley’s boggart turning into Mr. Weasley’s lifeless301 body, his glasses askew, blood running down his face … but Mr. Weasley wasn’t going to die … he couldn’t …

Dumbledore was now rummaging in a cupboard behind Harry and Ron. He emerged from it carrying 302a blackened old kettle, which he placed carefully on his desk. He raised his wand and murmured, Portus! For a moment the kettle trembled, glowing with an odd blue light; then it quivered to rest, as solidly black as ever.

We are honour-bound to give202 service to the present Headmaster of Hogwarts! cried a frail-looking old wizard whom Harry recognised as Dumbledore’s predecessor, Armando Dippet. Sharne on you, Phineas!

He returned to the common room
Half an hour later to find Hermione and Ron in the best seats by the fire; nearly everybody else had gone to bed. Hermione was writing a very long letter; she had already filled half a roll of parchment, which was dangling from the edge of the 100table. Ron was lying on the hearthrug, trying to finish his Transfiguration homework.

What kept you? he asked, as Harry sank into the armchair next to Hermione’s.

Harry didn’t answer. He was in a 101state of shock. Half of him wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had just happened, but the other half wanted to take the secret with him to the grave.

Are you all right, Harry? Hermione asked, peering at him over the tip of her quill.

Harry gave a half-hearted shrug. 102In truth, he didn’t know whether he was all right or not. What’s up? said

And moments later
The silver-ringleted witch had reappeared in her picture, too; she sank, coughing, into her armchair and said, Yes, they’ve taken him to St. Mungo’s, Dumbledore … they carried him 300past my portrait … he looks bad …

Thank you, said Dumbledore. He looked round at Professor McGonagall.

Minerva, I need you to go and 301wake the other Weasley children.

Of course …

Professor McGonagall got up and moved swiftly to the door. Harry cast a sideways glance at Ron, who was looking terrified.

And Dumbledore what about Molly?302 said Professor McGonagall, pausing at the door.

Shall I persuade him, Dumbledore?
called a gimlet-eyed witch, raising an unusually thick wand that looked not unlike a birch rod.

Oh, very well, said the wizard called Phineas, eyeing the wand with mild apprehension,200 though he may well have destroyed my picture by now, he’s done away with most of the family

Sirius knows not to destroy your portrait, said Dumbledore, and Harry realised immediately where he had heard Phineas’s voice before: issuing from the apparently empty frame in his bedroom 201in Grimmauld Place. You are to give him the message that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured and that his wife, children and Harry Potter will be arriving at his house shortly. Do you understand?